The pancreas is an important organ in our body that produces insulin. It is required to help the glucose pass to our cells from the blood. That is how energy is created, which is the fuel we require to function. When the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, the glucose level in one’s blood increases. This can result in diabetes, which can lead to organ damage. Types of diabetes There are mainly three kinds of this disease. Type 1 diabetes It can be most commonly seen in children and adolescents. Having said that, it can occur at any age. The insulin production of one’s body decreases with this condition, and they require daily injections to control their glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes Around 90% of people who have diabetes suffer from this type. It is most commonly seen in adults and results in one’s body failing to properly use the insulin that is produced. It can be kept under control by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but one may also require medicine in the advanced stages. Gestational diabetes This can be seen during pregnancy if the glucose level in one’s blood increases. It can affect both the child and the mother.

Gout or gouty arthritis is a form of arthritis that commonly occurs in the joint located at the base of one’s big toe. It can also be seen in other joints and results in swelling, sudden pain, and tenderness. It can happen to anyone and occur at any moment, even suddenly in the middle of the night. The good news is that it can be prevented and treated. Diagnosis of gout Multiple medical tests can be used to determine if one has this form of arthritis. Below is a list of the most common tests. Joint fluid test The doctor uses a needle to collect fluid from one’s joint and test the same under a microscope. If urate crystals are found in the fluid then they have the condition. Blood test For gout detection, the doctor may suggest a blood test. The amount of creatinine and uric acid present in one’s blood indicates if they have it or not. However, the result of the blood test may not always be conclusive. X-ray imaging If one has joint inflammation, the doctor can use X-ray imaging to determine if it is caused by any other reason or gouty arthritis. Ultrasound A musculoskeletal ultrasound test is used to determine if one has gout or any other form of arthritis.

A proper family and pregnancy planning is one of the most important aspects of life. The entire pregnancy period lasts for about 40 weeks. During this time, it is very important to stay healthy and safe. Early diagnosis and proper care ensure that both the mother and the child remains in good health. It is important that you understand the different stages of pregnancy to make sure of taking proper care. Stages of pregnancy The duration of the pregnancy is generally divided into three trimesters or stages. First trimester The first 12 weeks of the pregnancy is known as the first trimester. By the end of this stage, the heart, muscles, nerves, and the sex organs of the baby starts to form. Second trimester The 13 th week to the 28 th week is known as the second trimester. This is when the baby starts to form fingerprints and footprints. Hair starts to grow on the head and the blood cells are created by bone marrow too. By the end of this trimester, the baby can become up to 12-inches long. Third trimester The remaining of the pregnancy up to the 40 th week is the third stage. By the 37 th week, the organs of the baby can function on their own.

Eye-related complications need to be taken quite seriously. According to a survey, many people are not too serious about their eye health, as only 30% of the population go for eye check-ups regularly. Apart from weak vision, various other conditions that can lead to eye-related problems. Below is a list of some of the most common ones. Different types of eye conditions Glaucoma The increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in your eyes can lead to many complications, which are known as glaucoma. It is a group of diseases of the eye. The optic nerve of the eye is affected due to the increased IOP. This can also lead to a complete loss of vision. Cataracts It is a cloudy lens that forms in your eye. Even though this condition does not cause any pain, cataracts lead to blurry vision. While aging is the most common cause of this condition, it can also be a result of diabetes, certain medications, trauma, and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Retinal detachment Your eye health can be seriously affected by a detached retina. The retina is a tissue located at the back of your eyes. Sometimes, it can get separated from its underlying structures.

The joints in our bodies are constantly working while we move our limbs. Hence, it is understandable that with time we may develop certain joint conditions that lead to pain and compromised mobility. One of the very common forms of these conditions is arthritis. It leads to joint inflammation. A condition that mainly affects people over 65 years of age, it can be more commonly seen in women. Different stages of arthritis There are many different types of arthritis, but the two most commonly occurring ones are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis has four stages. Stage 1 During this stage, inflammation occurs in the joints. Swelling, stiffness, and joint pains are common symptoms of this stage. The joint tissues swell up, too. Stage 2 During this time, the joint lining, synovium, is inflamed even more and results in cartilage damage. The joints’ motion capability is compromised due to this, leading to pain. Stage 3 In this stage, the severity of the joint condition becomes even more harmful. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to bone damages. This results in more pain, loss of mobility, and weakness of muscles. Stage 4 This is the end stage where the joints stop functioning completely. It leads to more pain, stiffness, and swelling.

The joints are constantly working while we move our limbs, so, understandably, people may develop certain joint conditions that cause pain and compromise mobility, especially with age. One of the common joint conditions is arthritis, which leads to joint inflammation and mild to severe pain. While there are several types of arthritis, the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Stages Rheumatoid arthritis has four stages: Stage 1 : At this stage, inflammation occurs inside the joints, and swelling, stiffness, and joint pain are the common symptoms. Stage 2 : The inflammation of the joint lining, synovium, aggravates at this stage and results in cartilage damage. The affected joints’ range of motion is also compromised, causing pain and discomfort. Stage 3 : At this stage, the severity of the joint condition increases, and it leads to bone damage. This results in more pain, loss of mobility, and weakness of muscles. The bones rubbing against each other can cause bone deformity as well. Stage 4 : This is the final stage where the joints stop functioning completely. It leads to more pain, stiffness, and swelling, and the bones may even fuse, which is known as ankylosis. Osteoarthritis also has four stages of progression:

Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most serious medical conditions, affects one’s memory, ability to think, language skills, problem-solving ability, mobility, and personality. This disease is a progressive condition that worsens with time. The symptoms and progression rate may vary from person to person, but the trajectory is almost the same for everyone. Stages of Alzheimer’s disease The progress of Alzheimer’s disease can be broken down into seven stages. Stage 1 Cognitive decline does not occur in this stage, and the disease remains undetectable. Stage 2 During this stage, one starts to forget little things, like where they kept certain things. However, it is hard to detect the condition at this stage as most people start to forget things as they age anyway. Stage 3 The third stage of Alzheimer’s disease results in forgetfulness, and one may find it hard to concentrate or find the right words when having a normal conversation. Sometimes, work performance also deteriorates. Stage 4 Early-stage dementia occurs in patients during this time. They start to forget more things, including recent events. Focusing on something becomes harder and they cannot manage to perform challenging tasks. Socialization becomes harder during this period, too. Stage 5 Stage five is when one starts to forget important things, like their contact information and address.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition characterized by unstable blood sugar levels. While treatment and lifestyle changes help manage the disease, eating the right foods is essential. So, are fruits healthy for diabetes? Well, fruits have a lot of nutrients and phytochemicals, which are necessary for the body. But, they are also rich in sugar. Hence, diabetes patients must understand how to add fruits to their everyday meals. Here are some diabetes fruit intake tips. Understand how fruits affect blood sugar Fruits have a natural sugar called fructose, which breaks down quickly and gets absorbed by the liver. However, fructose can bypass a signal that indicates when the cells have consumed too much sugar. This is problematic for diabetic patients as the sugar levels can increase significantly after eating a lot of fructose. The amount of fructose differs among fruits. So, certain varieties may raise sugar levels faster. But, it is challenging to measure sugar responses in patients. For some, eating bananas may not be an issue, but it may cause blood sugar levels to rise for others. Therefore, it is best to consider the fruit’s glycemic index (GI), which shows how quickly it will affect blood sugar. The numbers vary depending on how the fruits are prepared.

Sugar can be an addictive ingredient in food and drinks. With all the processed and fast food available at every store, it becomes difficult to avoid this component. While some are strict about their diet, some do not keep a tab on their daily sugar intake. Let’s look at some of the signs and symptoms that may point toward excess sugar intake in a diet. Weight gain Sugars tend to be used up by the body very quickly, leaving it hungry for more. Most processed foods and sugary treats do not have anything nutritious content in them – no protein, fiber, or healthy fats – to keep the body full and satiated. So consuming sugary foods or drinks is like consuming empty calories with no benefits. According to research, it was also observed that sweet beverages promoted weight gain in adults as well as children. High blood pressure Research suggests that too much sugar in the diet can lead to hypertension or high blood pressure in individuals. Studies observe that high glucose levels could be responsible for damaging the lining inside the blood cells, making it vulnerable for cholesterol to stick to them. This can cause the vessels to narrow down, making it difficult for blood to flow.

Diabetes is a condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It interferes with the body’s ability to process blood sugar, or blood glucose. Every single diabetes patient probably knows that they must eat healthy to maintain normal blood sugar levels. However, the problem is that many foods marketed as healthy and considered diabetes-friendly can actually cause a spike in blood sugar levels. In this article, we’ve listed foods many people don’t know are bad for diabetics. Brown rice When thinking of healthy rice, brown rice is the first thing that comes to many people’s minds. It is a whole grain that has the bran, germ, and endosperm intact. Indeed, brown rice is healthier than white rice, thanks to its rich fiber content. But it also contains a high amount of carbohydrates, which quickly break down into glucose, sending blood sugar levels soaring. Before making a brown rice recipe, it’s important to watch the portion size to prevent a spike in blood sugar. Dried fruits Many people have the habit of noshing on dry fruits. But these fruits, particularly raisins, are bad food choices for those with diabetes. When a fruit is dried, it loses all water, resulting in a higher concentration of its various nutrients, including sugar and carbohydrates.